Am I making this game more difficult for myself???

[timastyle]

I am currently playing Mizuno MP-57 irons. I feel I have fairly good iron game, but there are times when I get a bit inconsistent with my irons. It has got me wondering how much more difficult I am making this game for myself. I can't stand the larger, clunky looking GI irons, but was wondering how much easier the game could be if I were to go back to a "players" iron. I was at GS and hitting the TM R9 TP iron and i was getting consistent yardages (within 5 yards) on my shots according to the LM. Even on off center hit, I was still getting them out there.

Just wondering what all your thoughts are on this. Thanks!

[Shindig]

I think it's far harder to hit a club that doesn't look good to you at address than any other club there is.

Two years into the relationship, I still look at my MP-57s at address and it reminds me that I'm a good iron player!

[Dad-2-3]

I am currently playing Mizuno MP-57 irons. I feel I have fairly good iron game, but there are times when I get a bit inconsistent with my irons. It has got me wondering how much more difficult I am making this game for myself. I can't stand the larger, clunky looking GI irons, but was wondering how much easier the game could be if I were to go back to a "players" iron. I was at GS and hitting the TM R9 TP iron and i was getting consistent yardages (within 5 yards) on my shots according to the LM. Even on off center hit, I was still getting them out there.

My thoughts are that you are just as inconsistent with either set of irons. Your current irons don't mask the inconsistency perhaps like the TM iron would. How can you get better and improve if you don't know about your inconsistency? If your goal is to just play and be consistent then by all means go with the TM. If you wish to get better then stick with what you've got and practice/take lessons and play until you can hit your Mizzy's consistently. JMHO

[MasterP]

If golf isn't a source of income then by all means play with the set that you enjoy the most.

I've noticed that GI irons generally get a bad rap in some golfing circles. The myth that they don't give you feedback on mishits and bad shots is just that, a myth. I play TM R7's, which most would consider GI irons, and I sure as hell know when I don't hit one right. They give plenty of feedback. It I hit it off the toe I can feel it, if I thin it I can feel it, and if I hit it off the heel I can feel it even without looking up. Sure the shots may turn out ok, and the sweet spot is bigger than a blade or muscle back but I need all of the help I can get. I don't pretend I hit a good shot if it doesn't feel like a good shot even if it turns out semi ok.

So to answer your question, "Am I making the game more difficult?" yes, you are. Will you learn more with the clubs you have vs a CB? Maybe, maybe not, but CB and GI irons aren't magic wands that eliminate feedback and make bad shots into good shots.

[authentic_golfer]

As a devoted Mizuno man, specifically MP-57s, it pains me to say this, but... If you were stinging the TM's, and they look and feel right to you, give them a try on the course.

OK, that wasn't so bad.

Wouldn't necessarily give up on the MP's, though. They are pretty forgiving for a smallish (by today's standards) forged iron, and sweet as agave nectar when struck just right.

Good luck,
Sean

[timastyle]

.bg

My thoughts are that you are just as inconsistent with either set of irons. Your current irons don't mask the inconsistency perhaps like the TM iron would. How can you get better and improve if you don't know about your inconsistency? If your goal is to just play and be consistent then by all means go with the TM. If you wish to get better then stick with what you've got and practice/take lessons and play until you can hit your Mizzy's consistently. JMHO

As MasterP said, it's not like you can't feel when you have a mishit. You're not punished as much on mishits (loss of yards). You definitely know when you don't hit the sweet spot. Using your logic, why not use the Mizzy's on the range and work on the swing and use something more forgiving out on the course, so that even if you don't hit it flush, you're not penalized so much.

If golf isn't a source of income then by all means play with the set that you enjoy the most.

I agree with you as far as the GI clubs go, although I believe that mishits on player's irons are a lot more pronounced than on GI. The MP-57 irons are CB irons, not blades, but they're definitely not for people who can't strike the ball when. For the most part, I do, but there are those times...

As a devoted Mizuno man, specifically MP-57s, it pains me to say this, but... If you were stinging the TM's, and they look and feel right to you, give them a try on the course.

I love the feel of them when struck properly, not too big a fan of when I don't though (ouch!). I'm not sure how I could try the irons out on a course without buying them first. I would love the opportunity to though.

[ks8829]

How long have you played with the MP-57s? The club is showing some flaw in your golf swing. Take a club from both set and take them to the driving range or to your local golf store and check them out for distance, feel and playability and make a decision, or...............

practice with the 57s and improve your golf swing. I will sometime take a wedge and just focus on solid contact, distance control and finally direction control, its usually the take away and backswing for me.

[chilly]

I started playing with some MP 52s recently, moving from my MX 23s. Initially i loved them, but I'm starting to wonder if they're hurting me a bit. Couple times a round I'll come up short of a green when I don't hit it quite right...and I don't remember that happening as often with the 23s. I'm going to switch back for a bit and see if it makes a difference. I like the look and setup of the 52s, but if I can shave strokes with the 23s, there's no doubt that's what I'll be doing.

[shades9323]

Simple answer is yes, you are making the game more difficult for yourself. However, you should also be asking yourself if the clubs are making the game less FUN for you. How much do you practice? I tried the "players" irons. Thought I would practice more. I don't like practice. I just like to play. So I got rid of the "players" irons and went with some G5's(GI).

What is it you can't stand about lager iron heads? IMO, fwiw, those that can't get over the look of a GI have a weak mental game and should work on that.

[timastyle]

How long have you played with the MP-57s? The club is showing some flaw in your golf swing. Take a club from both set and take them to the driving range or to your local golf store and check them out for distance, feel and playability and make a decision, or...............

I've been playing with the 57s since about October and enjoy them for the most part. It's the few shots a round that I don't hit it well which cause me to lose some strokes because they weren't hit well. I agree in that I have swing flaws. I've hit both on the LM at GS and I'm consistently 10-15 yards longer with the TMs (avg. 185-190 yards with 6i....even got a couple out 200 plus). With the 57s, I was avg. 170-180 on pure or close to pure shots. I checked the specs and both have the same loft as well.

As far as the flaws being from the take away and backswing, I would absolutely agree. I was at the driving range yesterday morning and couldn't hit my irons all that way. I was very erratic and even had a draw/hook on my shots. I usually don't have any ball movement (draw or fade) on my shots. I went to GS twice yesterday to hit the TMs and was working more on starting the take away more on a straight line and that helped me quite a bit. Need to try that with the 57s and see how it feels.

Simple answer is yes, you are making the game more difficult for yourself. However, you should also be asking yourself if the clubs are making the game less FUN for you. How much do you practice? I tried the "players" irons. Thought I would practice more. I don't like practice. I just like to play. So I got rid of the "players" irons and went with some G5's(GI).

I practice or play about 2-3 times a week generally. Not a big fan of practice but sometimes, my schedule only allows for that. I had been fairly solid recently so I hadn't been practicing my irons for a couple weeks (other than playing rounds of golf). I have been concentrating on putting a lot lately as that was/is the worse part of my game.

It's not that I can't stand them or get over the look of the GI. I used to play with them for years and years. I have just gotten to the smaller iron heads and like the look of them much more than the larger ones. It's more gentle on my eye. I could very easily go back to the larger heads, just would need to take some time to get used to look again.

[Meddle]

Well, the answer to this question is pretty clear, on bad ball-striking days they will cost you shots. I think it just comes down to what you prefer. If you love the feel of that clean strike, the look of a small compact head, and knowing that you use a forged blade, then go for it. But if all you are concerned with is the scorecard, I think switching would help you.

[jammer59]

I started playing with some MP 52s recently, moving from my MX 23s. Initially i loved them, but I'm starting to wonder if they're hurting me a bit. Couple times a round I'll come up short of a green when I don't hit it quite right...and I don't remember that happening as often with the 23s. I'm going to switch back for a bit and see if it makes a difference. I like the look and setup of the 52s, but if I can shave strokes with the 23s, there's no doubt that's what I'll be doing.

I moved into MP-52s recently and kept a combo set of 6-Pw MP-52 and 4/5i MX-23. It's working out very well for me. I get the added forgiveness where I need it most and I love the control and precision of the shorter irons. The MP-52s are a bit more weakly lofted than the MX-23s so they will tend to play shorter for the same number so that might account for coming up shorter. I find that I can take a longer club, grip down an inch and swing normally and I get about the same range that way.

[timastyle]

Well, the answer to this question is pretty clear, on bad ball-striking days they will cost you shots. I think it just comes down to what you prefer. If you love the feel of that clean strike, the look of a small compact head, and knowing that you use a forged blade, then go for it. But if all you are concerned with is the scorecard, I think switching would help you.

That's exactly why I am considering going to something more forgiving. There are plenty of irons out there that are more forgiving than the 57s that are forged. I was just using the TMs as an example, because that's what I had been hitting at GS. The 52s, for example, felt a lot more forgiving to me than the 57s, but I was able to get a better deal on the 57s and went with them. As far as the scorecard comment...well isn't the whole point of the game to have as low of a score as possible? I mean if a set of clubs are costing you to shoot higher numbers, wouldn't the logic say to get something that can help you minimize that?

[Meddle]

That's exactly why I am considering going to something more forgiving. There are plenty of irons out there that are more forgiving than the 57s that are forged. I was just using the TMs as an example, because that's what I had been hitting at GS. The 52s, for example, felt a lot more forgiving to me than the 57s, but I was able to get a better deal on the 57s and went with them. As far as the scorecard comment...well isn't the whole point of the game to have as low of a score as possible? I mean if a set of clubs are costing you to shoot higher numbers, wouldn't the logic say to get something that can help you minimize that?

I certainly would go with the club that's going to help me shoot the lowest score possible, but I've seen other people on this forum argue that they get the most satisfaction from just executing a shot exactly how they envision it with a blade, even if they only do it 1/2 the time and shoot 90 doing it.

[shades9323]

I mean if a set of clubs are costing you to shoot higher numbers, wouldn't the logic say to get something that can help you minimize that?

Yes. I don't know why you aren't running to get some GI irons then. Why would you weaken your game in the first place because of a little better deal you got on the 57's?

[sean_miller]

I think you should hit what gives you the best results, but don't discount irons that require a better swing.

You don't need to hit a full set of MP-57s (other blade like irons) on the course to reap the benefits of a more demanding iron. Just pick up a couple of demo 6-irons to bring to the range. On days when you're striping the player's iron, your GI sticks will be like buttah!!

I will probably always choose blades (or blade like irons) while my ball striking is on, but having said that, not all blades are equal. If a person gets a set that doesn't fit (length, lofts, lies, camber, sole grind / bounce angle, head length, etc), they could be struggling for a long time without any real gains in ball striking ability.

[timastyle]

I certainly would go with the club that's going to help me shoot the lowest score possible, but I've seen other people on this forum argue that they get the most satisfaction from just executing a shot exactly how they envision it with a blade, even if they only do it 1/2 the time and shoot 90 doing it.

My iron play is definitely better than 50%, but I get your point.

Yes. I don't know why you aren't running to get some GI irons then. Why would you weaken your game in the first place because of a little better deal you got on the 57's?

I agree with you and the more I think about it, the more sense it makes to move to something more forgiving, at least until I groove a better, more consistent swing. Even then, it may not make sense to even move up...